States Bordering Canada Try To Stop Tighter Checks

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - THE NATION

October 2, 1998

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers from states bordering Canada scrambled Thursday to postpone a law they fear could create a traffic nightmare by requiring new, stricter checks at border crossings. Sen. Spencer Abraham, R-Mich., author of the stopgap legislation that would postpone the law, said he wanted to ``provide several more days for Congress to pass a legislative fix and prevent gridlock at our borders.'' The provision of the 1996 immigration law went into effect on Thursday, but federal officials said there would be no changes in inspections at the border this week or in the near future because it requires massive new systems and manpower.